The principle of the permanence of the rules of calculation is contrasted with the concretization permanence principle. Both apply to situations where some arithmetical operation known to children for numbers of a certain kind is to be extended to include further numbers. (MNS)

Three methods for using four-function, counting calculators for developing understanding of the meaning of square roots and operations on whole and rational numbers are described. (MP)

Understanding rational numbers is often an elusive goal in mathematics. Presented is an approach for teaching rational numbers that has been used with many preservice and elementary school teachers. With some adaptation, the approach could be used with secondary school students. (RH)

Investigates the differences between students' and instructors' perceptions of similarities among basic computation-related rational number skills. Results indicate that college students in developmental mathematics do see some relationships among rational number computation skills, although not necessarily the ones seen by instructors. (AIM)

This is unit three of a fifteen-unit secondary mathematics textbook. This unit contains two chapters. The first chapter discusses integers and the second chapter discusses rational numbers. Operations with both types of numbers as well as the structure of the systems are discussed. (MK)

Demonstrates how to use graphing calculators to explore rational number approximations to irrational numbers. (Author/NB)

Describes the kinds of computational abilities achieved by a class of 4th grade students who were part of a research program for teaching rational numbers. In this program, students build on intuitive understandings of percents and proportions for the development of overall understanding of the number system and are encouraged to invent their own…

Describes a number line activity based on students' individual timelines to help students understand the concepts of integers and rational numbers. Middle school students and their parents construct a number line using positive and negative rational numbers to represent dates of events before and after the student's birth. (KHR)

Described are children's strategies in thinking about fraction order and equivalence. The data are based on two teaching experiments with fourth and fifth-grade children. Some sample activities for teaching order and equivalence are included. (RH)

The development of a quantitative concept of rational numbers was explored in interviews with 16 fourth and fifth graders in two cities. High performers used a flexible and spontaneous application of concepts of rational number order and fraction equivalence, and a reference point, while low achievers tended not to. (MNS)

The mechanisms, images, and language needed for the development of rational-number ideas are briefly discussed. Such ideas are sophisticated and different from natural-numbers ideas. (MNS)

Several examples of concrete applications of negative numbers are given. (MM)

Devises a new curriculum to introduce rational numbers by using developmental theory as a guide. Experiment concluded that students in the treatment group showed a deeper understanding of rational numbers than those in the control group, showed less reliance on whole-number strategies when solving novel problems, and made more frequent references…

A two-year study was conducted with fourth-grade children in the context of extensive teaching experiments concerned with the learning of rational number concepts. Representational difficulties in using the number line model were investigated. While instruction in the second year attempted to resolve observed learning difficulties, the results of…

Measurement experiences can promote and illustrate number work in an intuitively satisfying way. Some current practices that are counterproductive for developing number sense and some alternative strategies that are more constructive are included in discussions of the approximate nature of measurement, realistic measurement, and work with rational…